Die set

ABSTRACT

A self-supporting interleaving die set comprises a pair of preferably identically configured interchangeable die members each having an interior crimping surface flanked on one end by a tapered recess and on the other end by a tapered upstanding wall, the tapered wall of one of the die members being proportioned to mesh with and be supported within the tapered recess of the other die member as the die members are disposed in face to face relationship and brought together, to provide a non-locking, self-guiding die arrangement employable with crimping tools or the like. Mating ribs and recesses are provided along the interior walls of the die nest to further insure lateral coincidence between the die members.

United States Patent [191 Sosinski [451 Sept. 16, 1975 [73] Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation,

Elizabeth, NJ.

[22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 538,807

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,951,719 6/1970 Germany 72/412 Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Assistant ExaminerGene P. Crosby Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David Teschner; Jesse Woldman [5 7 ABSTRACT A self-supporting interleaving die set comprises a pair of preferably identically configured interchangeable die members each having an interior crimping surface flanked on one end by a tapered recess and on the other end by a tapered upstanding wall, the tapered wall of one of the die members being proportioned to mesh with and be supported within the tapered recess of the other die member as the die members are disposed in face to face relationship and brought together, to provide a non-locking, self-guiding die arrangement employable with crimping tools or the like. Mating ribs and recesses are provided along the interior walls of the die nest to further insure lateral coincidence between the die members.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DIE SET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and female members is the tendency for such devices to lock or jam together or cause a jam of the workpiece under the influence of the expanding forces of the workpiece during the crimping operation. Such prior art die sets are exemplified in US. Pat. No. 2,567,155 issued Sept. 4, 1951 to .I. C. Macy; US. Pat. No. 2,692,422 issued Oct. 26, 1954 to F. L. Pierce, US. Pat. No. 3,417,599 issued Dec. 24, 1968 to W. C. Burns; and in US. Pat. No. 3,412,596 issued Nov.'26, 1968 to W. C. Burns. Typical devices intended to at least partially alleviate this problem are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,101,766 issued Aug. 27, 1963 to E. Floyd, Jr.; and in US. Pat. No. 3,616,674 issued Nov. 2, 1971 to R. F. Piasecki et al and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. These latter devices, although an improvement over the former, still fail to provide sufficient rigidity and accuracy of configuration under constant and repeated use to avoid the above noted problems. Such problems are further accentuated where the die nest must be closely -toleranced to prevent the formation of flash caused by the outward radial extrusion of the connector within the die nest during the crimping operation. A prior art symmetrical die arrangement which at least partially avoids the above noted problems is exemplified in US Pat. No. 2,359,084 issued Sept. 26, 1944 to v. E. Carlson. This device, however, fails to provide any retaining means for the side walls of the die nest and is thus of limited usefulness in many applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention overcomes the limitations noted above with respect to prior art devices by providing a selfsupporting, self-guiding, intermating die set comprising preferably identical non-locking die members which is more reliable, efficient, and more versatile than such prior art devices. The die nest is defined by one base and one side wall of each die member, the side wall of each of the die members having a tapered exterior surface arranged to mesh with a complementarily tapered recess in the other die member so that the two die members are guided into proper mating relationship with the side wall of each die member being supported within the recess of the other die member. Upon disengagement, the die nest is exposed along two adjacent sides preventing locking or jamming of the die members, or jamming of the crimped article within the die nest. Mating ribs and grooves may be respectively provided within each die member to insure lateral coincidence therebetween during closure. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved die set.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved intermating die set. 7

It is a further object of this invention to provide a self-aligning die set.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved die set having self-supporting side walls.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a die set having interchangeable die members.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a 'die set having means to prevent jamming or locking of the die members thereof during a crimping cycle.

Other objects and features will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode contemplated for carrying it out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly cut away and partly in section of an intermating die set constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the die set of FIG. 1 in a partly closed state.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the die set of FIG. 1 in a fully closed state.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the die set of FIG. 1 showing the self-aligning feature thereof.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a die member constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

Similar elements are given similar reference characters in each of the respective drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 5 there is shown an intermating dieset for crimping tools or the like and constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. The die set 20 comprises an upper die member 22 and a lower die member 24 which are preferably substantially identically configured. Each of the die members 22 and 24, respectively, comprises a crimping surface 26, 26 bounded by a first side 28, 28, a second side 30, 30, a first end 32, 32', and a second end 34, 34'. Each of the first ends 32 and 32 communicates with a respective side wall 36, 36' disposed generally normal to its associated crimping surface 26, 26 and communicating with a respective exterior inclined surface 38, 38. The second end 34, 34' of each die member 22, 24, respectively, communicates with a recessed portion 40, 40' defined by an interior wall 42, 42 extending generally parallel to the side wall 36, 36' and communicating at its base with an inclined interior surface 44, 44' to provide a generally V-shaped recess having an included angle A between its interior wall 42, 42' and its inclined interior surface 44, 44 arranged to be equal to an included angle B between the side wall 36, 36' and the exterior inclined surface 38, 38'. Ac-

cordingly, the projection on one of the die members comprising the side wall 36, 36 and the exterior inclined surface 38, 38' will intimately mesh and intermate with the recessed portion 40, 40 of the other die member as the crimping surfaces 26 and 26' are disposed in face to face relationship and the die members completely removed to effectively eliminate the possibility of locking or jamming the work piece therewithin. As further shown in FIG. 3, each of .the die member projections comprising a side wall 36, 36' and an inclined exterior surface 38, 38 is fully supported within the recessed portion 40, 40' of the opposing die member to provide a substantially non-deformable, confined, interlocking structure upon closure of the die members 22 and 24. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the height of the upstanding side wall 36, 36 is shown as being greater than the depth of the recessed portion 40, 40' so that the crimping surfaces 26 and 26 are maintained at a given spaced apart relationship upon full closure of the die members 22 and 24, the spacing therebetween being governed by the height of the die nest opening desired in a particular application. It should be clear however, that the depth of the recessed portion 40, 40 may be proportioned to be substantially equal to or greater than the height of the side wall 36, 36' to prevent restricting the amount of pressure exerted on the workpiece contained within the die set. As further illustrated in FIG. 4, the mating inclined surfaces 38', 44, and 38, 44' serve to advantageously guide and realign the upper and lower die members 22 and 24 into longitudinal coincidence in the event they have been axially offset from one another prior to closure, which condition may readily be caused by looseness or tolerance buildup in the supporting and driving means (not shown) to which the die members may be attached. For purposes of illustration, the upper die member 22 is shown in FIG. 4 as being axially displaced slightly to the right of the lower die member 24. However, as the inclined surfaces 44 and 38 of the upper die member 22 contact the mating inclined surfaces 38' and 44', respectively, of the lower die member 24 during closure, the upper die member 22 is urged towards the left into coincidence with the lower die member 24 to insure accurate alignment therebetween during the final stage of closure.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the die members 22 and 24 may be provided with additional guide means such a rib 48, 48' extending longitudinally from the second end 34, 34 of the crimping surface 26, 26' towards the base of the recessed portion 40, 40' and a rib receiving groove 50, 50 extending longitudinally along the upstanding side wall 36, 36. The rib 48, 48 is selectively contoured to slidingly mate with the groove 50, 50, the rib 48, 48' and the groove 50, 50 being located along a common axis C (FIG. arranged to bisect the crimping surface 26, 26. Accordingly, as the die members 22 and 24 are brought together in the manner shown generally in FIG. 2, the rib 48, 48 of one of the die members 22 and 24 will tend to be urged into coincidence with the mating groove 50, 50' on the other die member, to provide additional guide means insuring lateral coincidence between the die members 22 and 24 during closure. It will of course be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that suitably located additional mating ribs and grooves such as 48, 48 and 50, 50', respectively, may be provided in a similar manner, where necessary or desirable. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the crimping surfaces 26 and 26 are shown providedwith selectively contoured raised portions 52 arranged to impart a specific crimp configuration to the workpiece during the crimping cycle. It

should be clear, however, that such arrangement has been shown merely for the sake of convenience, and is not intended as a limitation with respect to the particular shapes or configurations which may be substituted therefore in specific applications. It should be also noted that although a generally planar crimping surface is shown, such contour is not an essential element of the invention, and that the invention will serve with equal effectiveness where the crimping surfaces 26, 26 are non-planar and comprise concave, convex, or semi arcuate sections or areas.

The embodiments of the inention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An intermating die set employable with a crimping tool or the like comprising: an upper die member; and a lower die member, each of said upper and lower die members being similarly configured'and including an interior crimping surface bounded by opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second ends; said first end communicating with an upstanding side wall disposed generally normal to said crimping surface and said second end communicating with a recessed portion; said upstanding side wall communicating with an inclined exterior surface; said recessed portion being defined by an interior wall disposed generally normal to said crimping surface and an inclined interior surface communicating with said interior wall at the base of said recessed portion; the included angle between said upstanding side wall and said inclined exterior surface being equal to the included angle between said recessed portion interior wall and said inclined interior surface; said upper and lower die members being proportioned so that said upstanding side wall and in clined exterior surface of one of said upper and lower die members will intermate with said recessed portion of the other of said upper and lower die members as said crimping surfaces are disposed in face to face relationship and said upper and lower die members are moved towards one another.

2. A die set as defined in claim 1 wherein the height of said upstanding wall is at least equal to the depth of said recessed portion.

3. A die set as defined in claim 1 wherein the height of said upstanding wall is greater than the depth of said recessed portion.

4. A die set as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of said inclined exterior surface is substantially equal to the length of said recessed portion inclined interior surface.

5. A die set as defined in claim 1 further comprising cooperating means on said first and said second die members to provide lateral coincidence therebetween as said first and said second die members are moved into intermating engagement.

6. A die set as defined in claim 5 wherein said cooperating means comprises a rib extending longitudinally along each of said recessed portion interior surfaces, and a rib receiving groove extending longitudinally along each of said upstanding side walls, said rib and said groove having complimentary mating contours and selectively located so as to mate with one another as said first and said second die members are moved into intermating engagement.

7. A die set as defined in claim 6 wherein said rib and said groove lie along a common axis bisecting said interior crimping surface. 

1. An intermating die set employable with a crimping tool or the like comprising: an upper die member; and a lower die member, each of said upper and lower die members being similarly configured and including an interior crimping surface bounded by opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second ends; said first end communicating with an upstanding side wall disposed generally normal to said crimping surface and said second end communicating with a recessed portion; said upstanding side wall communicating with an inclined exterior surface; said recessed portion being defined by an interior wall disposed generally normal to said crimping surface and an inclined interior surface communicating with said interior wall at the base of said recessed portion; the included angle between said upstanding side wall and said inclined exterior surface being equal to the included angle between said recessed portion interior wall and said inclined interior surface; said upper and lower die members being proportioned so that said upstanding side wall and inclined exterior surface of one of said upper and lower die members will intermate with said recessed portion of the other of said upper and lower die members as said crimping surfaces are disposed in face to face relationship and said upper and lower die members are moved towards one another.
 2. A die set as defined in claim 1 wherein the height of said upstanding wall is at least equal to the depth of said recessed portion.
 3. A die set as defined in claim 1 wherein the height of said upstanding wall is greater than the depth of said recessed portion.
 4. A die set as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of said inclined exterior surface is substantially equal to the length of said recessed portion inclined interior surface.
 5. A die set as defined in claim 1 further comprising cooperating means on said first and said second die members to provide lateral coincidence therebetween as said first and said second die members are moved into intermating engagement.
 6. A die set as defined in claim 5 wherein said cooperating means comprises a rib extending longitudinally along each of said recessed portion interior surfaces, and a rib receiving groove extending longitudinally along each of said upstanding side walls, said rib and said groove having complimentary mating contours and selectively located so as to mate with one another as said first and said second die members are moved into intermating engagement.
 7. A die set as defined in claim 6 wherein said rib and said groove lie along a common axis bisecting said interior crimping surface. 